Overview
The Import Tool lets you bring contacts, price list items, costings, historical costs and more into JACK without keying them in by hand. You can upload a CSV or Excel file, or enter data manually. You then map, check and fix everything on screen before you import, so your data lands in the right place the first time.
This article uses Costings to an Estimate as an example, but the steps are the same for every import type.
Before you start
Use the template if you can. Selecting Download Template gives you a file with the correct columns already set up.
One worksheet per file. If your workbook has several sheets, split it and upload one sheet at a time.
Keep it clean. Enter one record per row, and remove blank rows and merged cells.
For costings, make sure an empty Estimate already exists on the Lead, and that your Cost Codes and Units are set up in Settings > Data Setup.
Step 1: Open the Import Tool
Go to Settings > Import Tool. The screen lists every import type available in JACK.
Step 2: Choose your import type and add your data
Select the data type you want to import (for example, Costings to an Estimate), then click Next: Add Data. You can then:
Upload a CSV or Excel file, or
Select Enter Manually to type or paste your data straight into the grid.
Step 3: Map your columns
If your file came from another system and the headings don't match JACK's, an Unmapped Columns banner appears showing how many need attention.
Click Map Columns.
For each uploaded column, pick the matching JACK column.
Click Confirm Changes.
Only the headings change. Your data stays the same. Any columns you leave unmapped are skipped and won't be imported.
Step 4: Choose where each row imports
Each import includes a target column (Job for job data, Estimate for costings), so one sheet can send rows to several jobs or estimates at once.
Pick a target on each row, or
Click the + icon in the column header to fill the whole column. Choose Only rows with no Estimate yet or Every row on the sheet, pick the target, then click Apply.
đĄ Choosing Every row on the sheet overwrites any targets you've already set.
Step 5: Fix any issues in the grid
Your data is checked as you go. Cells that need attention are highlighted in red, and the highlight clears as you fix each one.
Every cell is editable. Click into a cell to correct it. There's no need to fix your file and re-upload it.
Hover a highlighted cell to see the exact error, for example 'Roofing/Moisture Protection' is not an existing Cost Group.
Add missing values on the spot. If a cost group doesn't exist yet, the drop-down lets you add it to every matching row or create a new one.
Turn on Show only rows with issues to filter the sheet down to just the rows that need fixing. The count beside the toggle shows how many are left.
Step 6: Import
Click Import All (or select specific rows to import just those, for example Import 7 rows).
A confirmation appears letting you know the import can't be undone. Click Import.
Import Complete shows how many rows came in. Click Done.
To check the result, go to Estimates and open the estimate you imported into.
Your progress saves automatically
Each import opens as its own tab in the top menu, and tabs save automatically. You can leave partway through and come back later to pick up where you left off. Click + New to start another import alongside it. A tab only closes once its data has been imported or cleared.
đĄ Running into issues? Check out Troubleshooting import issues.